Ask Phoebe: Two houses, but just one mayoral vote

If you have tenants in your holiday house, they get to vote instead. Photo / Herald on Sunday

I have two properties, one in Titirangi, where I live, and also a holiday home on Waiheke Island. Does this mean I get two local board votes? And do I get two votes for mayor and the Auckland Council? Simon Clarke, Titirangi.

You do get two local board votes, as long as you are enrolled in both board areas. If you have tenants in your holiday house, they get to vote instead.

But you get only one mayoral vote and a single allocation of voting rights for Auckland councillors.

Is it possible the district health boards will change their boundaries in line with the new Auckland Council boundaries?

If they do, it will create a ridiculous situation in Franklin, where part of the Tuakau and Waiuku areas are in Waikato and part in Auckland. It would mean half the residents would be off to Waikato Hospital and half to Middlemore. Sue McPherson, Pukekohe.

District health board areas are determined by the Ministry of Health and are completely independent of boundaries relating to the Auckland City region. I have not heard anything to suggest DHB boundaries are up for review, although anything is possible.

The DHB elections are held every three years, at the same time as local government elections, but this is more about convenience. Eligible voters get to elect seven members of each DHB, and up to four further members are appointed by the Health Minister.

You can also vote for your local licensing trust board, if you have one.

We live in the Rodney district and will be included in the Super City. Are we going to finally get free phone calls to Auckland? Joy McFarlane, Whangaparaoa.

Telecom says it has no plans to review geographic calling zones, although you can arrange deals with it if you regularly call neighbouring areas.

TelstraClear's Auckland free-calling zone already stretches from Warkworth to Pukekohe.